PESHAWAR, Dec 08 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Wednesday arrived on a day long visit.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan here at Governor House.
Governor KP and Chief Minister called on the Prime Minister and discussed political situation and administrative affairs of the province.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain was also present during the meeting.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP):The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a $603 million results-based lending program to strengthen and expand social protection programmes in Pakistan.
Using conditional cash transfers, the program will support the implementation of Ehsaas, Pakistan’s national social protection and poverty reduction strategy, according to an ADB statement received here Wednesday.
Under the Integrated Social Protection Development Program, ADB would provide a regular loan of $600 million and a $3 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, and would administer a $24 million grant from the Education Above All Foundation.
“The program marks a significant shift in ADB’s strategic engagement in the social protection space in Pakistan in line with Ehsaas priorities,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.
“ADB’s support will transition from unconditional cash transfers that provide income support to a mixed-modality approach that focuses more on conditional cash transfers for education, health services, and nutritional supplies that will help reduce intergenerational poverty through human capital development,” Zhukov added.
The program supports the Ehsaas goal of expanding cash transfers to improve access to primary and secondary education up to grade 10 for children and adolescents of poor families, especially girls, and enhancing health services and nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and poor children.
It also aims to initiate coverage of accelerated learning programs at primary education level for overaged out-of-school children under conditional cash transfers.
In addition, the program supports improvements in implementation and fiduciary capacity for Pakistan’s social protection programs.
This will build on previous ADB support to further improve grievance redress, risk management, financial management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, and management information systems—functions which help to strengthen internal controls.
Pakistan is prone to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, including floods, heat waves, and droughts which have a disproportionate impact on the poor and vulnerable.
By leveraging Asian Development Fund resources for climate adaptation, the program will help identify and integrate appropriate climate resilience measures, such as vulnerability mapping and early warning systems.
“ADB is a trusted and longstanding partner. This program is the result of years of engagement with ADB and other partners and focuses on areas where we believe the bank can have most impact. It is a key priority under the government’s Ehsaas strategy,” the press statement quoted Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar as having said.
“This program incentivizes parents to send their children to schools, particularly girls, and will help to provide specialized nutritious food and conditional cash transfers to children and mothers in the districts of Pakistan that most need it,” she added.
Pakistan is a founding member of ADB. Since 1966, ADB has committed more than $36 billion to promote inclusive economic growth and improve the country’s infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and urban and social services.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (APP):With the world now facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged countries to step up support for UN peacekeeping operations across the globe, and the thousands who serve within them.
Guterres made the appeal in remarks to the opening ceremony of the 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, hosted by the Republic of Korea.
The two-day event is the latest in a series of meetings held since 2014 aimed at improving UN field operations, stretching from the Western Sahara, to India and Pakistan.
Although there has been a notable increase in support for UN peacekeeping during this period, the Secretary-General said new threats and mounting challenges highlight the need for greater assistance.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions mean conflicts are more complex and prolonged. Peacekeeping has never been more relevant and its success more urgent,” he said in a video message.
Pakistan has been one of the largest contributors of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations. Since the 1960s, Pakistan has contributed over 200,000 troops to 43 missions. In its service to the cause of peace, Pakistan lost 157 of its bravest who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Seoul meeting is in line with efforts to reform UN peacekeeping, particularly the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative launched three years ago by the Secretary-General.
A4P encompasses eight priority areas, such as protection, partnerships, and performance and accountability. This past March, it was enhanced through a strategy known as A4P+ to accelerate commitments over the next two years.
Previous Ministerials have examined issues related to generating and enhancing uniformed capabilities, including the need to deploy more women ‘blue helmets’. This time, the focus is on medical capacity building and technology.
UN peacekeeping missions continue to face significant gaps in aviation and high-tech capabilities, said the Secretary-General. He gave examples from countries such as Mali, where helicopters and medical evacuation teams are urgently needed, given the vast and inaccessible terrain.
“We need your partnership, to ensure that we are deploying well-trained troops with the appropriate equipment,” he added. “Too often, uniformed peacekeepers lack the skills to administer first aid, to plan and undertake a patrol, or to assess information and identify threats.”
The UN chief also called for support to prevent and address misconduct, particularly sexual exploitation and abuse, among other areas for action.
South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong noted that as technology advances and becomes more affordable to warring parties, the operating environment for peacekeeping missions has in turn become increasingly complex and high-risk.
“It is essential to leverage the necessary technological tools and medical support as well as provide proper training in order to prepare our peacekeepers to meet the growing challenges, better deliver on their mandates, and protect themselves,” he said.
Chung announced the launch of the Seoul Initiative on Technology and Medical Capacity-Building in Peacekeeping, one of a raft of pledges made by countries during the first day of the meeting.
Following the opening ceremony, senior UN and government officials held two panel discussions: one on the issue of Sustaining Peace and the other looking at Partnerships, Training, and Capacity Building.
Atul Khare, head of the UN Department of Operational Support, spoke of additional critical aspects for peacekeeping. “We are redoubling our efforts to reduce missions’ environmental footprint and need your support by deploying units with renewable energy,” he told the session on partnerships.
Action on gender equality continues to be a priority, and Khare pointed to examples such as the Senior Women Talent Pipeline, a programme that promotes gender parity at senior levels in peacekeeping operations, as well as initiatives to increase women peacekeepers and make camps more suitable for them.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP):The Supernet, a subsidiary of Telecard Limited, has got Rs 100 million contract from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in Information Technology (IT) and Cyber Security domain, to secure its infrastructure from Advanced Persistent Threats (APT).
According to a notice issued by the Telecard to Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited, the contract involved supply, installation, maintenance and technical support of Next Generation Intrusion Detection and Protection Systems (“IDPS”) to secure the SBP Infrastructure from APT.
The IDPS solution would provide SBP with state-of-the-art deduction of vulnerable exploits and unidentified threats originating against any targeted system, applications or hardware.
In addition, the IDPS would ensure remedial measures, as and when any malicious behavior is detected. “This solution will operate by scanning all network traffic on SBP’s gateways, detecting and protecting against threats like DoS, DDoS, Worms and viruses, additionally, creating a 2nd layer of defense to SBP’s security framework.”
The SBP has maintained the highest possible standards for vendor selection, amidst stiff technical evaluative process and the Supernet’s emergence as successful bidder is a testament that it has the capability and capacity to undertake this project, paving the way for similar contracts in this sensitive cyber security domain within the financial sector.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (APP):The “disastrous” way in which plastic is used in farming across the world is threatening food safety and potentially human health, according to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization, a Rome-based UN agency.
It says soils contain more microplastic pollution than the oceans and that there is “irrefutable” evidence of the need for better management of the millions of tonnes of plastics used in the food and farming system each year.
“Soils are one of the main receptors of agricultural plastics and are known to contain larger quantities of microplastics than oceans”, FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said in the report’s foreword.
According to data collated by FAO experts, agricultural value chains each year use 12.5 million tonnes of plastic products while another 37.3 million are used in food packaging.
Crop production and livestock accounted for 10.2 million tonnes per year collectively, followed by fisheries and aquaculture with 2.1 million, and forestry with 0.2 million tonnes.
Asia was estimated to be the largest user of plastics in agricultural production, accounting for almost half of global usage. Moreover, without viable alternatives, plastic demand in agriculture is only set to increase.
As the demand for agricultural plastic continues surge, Ms. Semedo underscored the need to better monitor the quantities that “leak into the environment from agriculture”.
Since their widespread introduction in the 1950s, plastics have become ubiquitous.
In agriculture, plastic products greatly help productivity, such as in covering soil to reduce weeds; nets to protect and boost plant growth, extend cropping seasons and increase yields; and tree guards, which protect seedlings and saplings from animals and help provide a growth-enhancing microclimate.
However, of the estimated 6.3 billion tonnes of plastics produced before 2015, almost 80 per cent had never been properly disposed of.
While the effects of large plastic items on marine fauna have been well documented, the impacts unleashed during their disintegration, potentially affect entire ecosystems.
And microplastics – less than 5 mm in size – have been found in human feces and placentas as well as been transmitted to fetuses through their pregnant mothers.
While most scientific research on plastics pollution has been directed at aquatic ecosystems, FAO experts say agricultural soils are thought to receive far greater quantities of microplastics.
Since 93 per cent of global agricultural activities occur on land, further investigation in this area is needed, according to the UN agency.
“This report serves as a loud call to coordinated and decisive action to facilitate good management practices and curb the disastrous use of plastics across the agricultural sectors”, said the FAO deputy chief.
Lacking viable alternatives, it impossible for plastics to be banned – and there are no ‘silver bullets’ to eliminate the damages they cause.
The report does, however, identify several solutions based on the “Refuse, Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover” model.
The report also recommends developing a comprehensive voluntary code of conduct for all aspects of plastics throughout agrifood chains and calls for more research, especially on the health impact of micro- and nanoplastics.
“FAO will continue to play an important role in dealing with the issue of agricultural plastics holistically within the context of food security, nutrition, food safety, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture”, Ms. Semedo said.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (APP):The United Nations General Assembly has approved Pakistan’s four disarmament-related resolutions that are aimed at strengthening regional and international peace and security.
The resolutions were recommended by the 193-member Assembly’s First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) where the texts were adopted by overwhelming support of its membership.
Of these, three resolutions dealt with regional disarmament, conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels as well as Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the regional and sub-regional context.
The fourth Pakistani resolution sought security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states.
Entitled, “Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 126 in favour to none against, with 59 abstentions.
Under the terms of the 21-power resolution, the Assembly reaffirmed the urgent need to reach early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure
non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and appealed to all countries, especially the nuclear-weapon nations, to work actively for a common approach leading to a legally binding international instrument.
The resolution, entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and sub-regional levels”, was adopted by a vote of 173 in favour, two (India, Russia) against, with two (Gabon, Zimbabwe) abstaining.
Resolutions on “Regional Disarmament” and “Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context” were adopted by consensus.
Diplomats told APP that the approval of the resolutions by the General Assembly was as an acknowledgment of Pakistan’s commitment to promote the objectives of regional and global disarmament as well as strengthening international peace and security.
The three regional resolutions, it was pointed out, draw attention to the conventional military danger in the regional context — obviously South Asia — and propose measure to address the associated risks.
These resolutions, inter alia, affirm that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and encourage efforts aimed at promoting CBMs to ease regional tensions.
On conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels, the resolution acknowledges that preservation of a balance in States’ defence capabilities strengthens peace and stability.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Wednesday congratulated the newly elected office bearers of Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS).
In a statement the minister greeted Dr Zelf Munir, Chairperson, Khalid Farid, Vice Chairman and Farheen Salman on being elected General Secretary of PAS.
He expressed the hope that the newly elected office bearers and council members would take meaningful steps for the welfare of the advertising community and standardization of the practices of the advertising industry.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Wednesday congratulated the nation on the successful test of surface-to-air missile by Pakistan Navy.
In a statement, he said that this missile was a good addition to the operational capabilities of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Farrukh said that Pakistan has full capability to respond to any kind of aggression and adventure by the enemy.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan encouraged Malik Adnan’s courageous attempt to save Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara’s life by risking his life in front of angry mob.
In a tweet, he said that Malik Adnan was an icon and a national hero against extremism.
In another tweet, he expressed deep grief over demise of PTI’s ideological worker
Dr Abul Hassan.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan is launching the Micro Health Insurance Programme today (Wednesday) during his day-long visit to Peshawar.
Under the Kamyab Pakistan Programme, the micro health insurance will provide free medical services worth Rs one million annually to 7.5 million families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The prime minister will meet the Chief Minister and Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also hold meetings with the political leadership in Peshawar.
He will attend the registration ceremony of Ehsaas Ration Discount Programme in Peshawar where his Special Assistant for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr. Sania Nishtar will give a detailed briefing.
The Ehsaas Ration Discount Programme will provide groceries to about 20 million families making up to 130 million people, belonging to the economically weaker sections.
The prime minister will also interact with the representatives of traders association and Karyana (grocery) Alliance.
PM Imran Khan will distribute cheques under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s programme of financial assistance to Imams of Jamia mosques.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Wednesday that with each passing day the human tragedy in Afghanistan was increasing.
Addressing a function organized by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia here, he said that the people of Afghanistan were facing the worst humanitarian crisis in cold weather.
“The OIC Foreign Ministers Conference on December 19 will focus on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan,” said Chaudhry Fawad.
He said Pakistan was trying to form a mechanism with Saudi Arabia and other brotherly countries to help the people of the war torn country.
Pakistan was providing all possible assistance to Afghanistan, he said adding that “We are providing 250,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan”.
Pakistan, he said has abolished duty on 40 items imported from Afghanistan and this move will help Afghan businessmen to stand on their own feet.
The OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting would be a primarily non-political meeting focusing solely on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, he said.
“We want the world to come together to help Afghanistan, otherwise the crisis in Afghanistan could escalate,” the minister maintained.
He said in its report last month, The Economist mentioned the human tragedy inside Afghanistan could be bigger than Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
In such a situation, the world should focus on helping the people of Afghanistan, said Chaudhry Fawad.
He said talk about politics could be held later, but there could not delay talking about human tragedy in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has always spoken of peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan government was striving for peace there.
He said that OIC Foreign Ministers Conference will be Pakistan’s largest foreign affairs event since 1980, the minister disclosed.
Foreign ministers from 27 countries will attend the OIC Foreign Ministers Conference, while 84 countries will be represented, he said.
“Our fraternal relations with Saudi Arabia date back to before the formation of Pakistan,” said Fawad Hussain.
He said that when King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia came to Karachi in 1946, he was received by the leadership of All India Muslim League, Chaudhry Fawad said.
CANBERRA (Australia), Dec 8 (APP): In a diplomatic achievement for Pakistan, the government of Australia on Wednesday returned an aniconic stone weight id 3rd millennium BCE, having originated in Balochistan.
The stone weight was handed over to Pakistan’s High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry at a ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Australian Office of the Arts, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Border Force, INTERPOL Canberra, and the Australian Federal Police.
This is the first time that an object of cultural heritage from Pakistan has been returned by the Government of Australia under the UNESCO Convention.
The object was clandestinely excavated and illegally smuggled out of Pakistan. It was purchased online by an Australian resident from a seller in the United States and imported into Australia in July 2020.
The object was stopped for inspection by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and upon examination it was found to be authentic cultural heritage from Pakistan.
The High Commission for Pakistan had made a restitution request to the Australian Office of the Arts for the return of the object to its rightful owner under the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property 1970. Both Pakistan and Australia are signatories to the said Convention.
High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on the occasion appreciated the efforts of the Australian government in intercepting, retrieving and returning to Pakistan of this immensely valuable cultural property from the Bronze Age.
He underscored the importance of close cooperation among countries against illicit trafficking in cultural property.
The High Commissioner also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working with international friends and partners for the protection of common cultural heritage.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 8 (APP):Pakistan told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that geo-strategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states of the Indian Ocean have “gravely jeopardized” its potential for mutual cooperation.
“The international community needs to be cognizant of the fact that any military conflict in South Asia could endanger stability in a region that is critical for global trade and global peace and security,” Ambassador Munir Akram warned.
Speaking in a debate on the “Oceans and the law of the sea,” the Pakistani envoy highlighted Indian Ocean’s importance as a critical avenue for global trade, saying it hosts international maritime traffic that includes half of the world’s containerized cargo, one-third of its bulk cargo, and two-thirds of its oil shipments.
“Yet,” he said, “emerging issues, ranging from piracy and territorial water disputes to global environmental pressures on coastal and marine resources, pose considerable challenges for policymakers.”
As regards South China Sea issues, Ambassador Akram said Pakistan maintains that the resolution of the disputes are between the countries concerned, and that outside countries should respect the negotiations and the process through which the parties concerned wish to resolve them.
Pakistan, he said, was an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework, which included counter-piracy as well as human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.
“Improving the governance of the oceans and strengthening legal frameworks is therefore essential for international peace and security, interconnectivity, the blue economy, and free trade.”
Since its adoption, the Pakistani envoy said, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its affiliated governing institutions have played an important role in ensuring the judicious use of ocean resources for all mankind.
Pakistan, he said, also attached great importance to the work of the three bodies established under UNCLOS, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
While examining submissions, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf needs to give due regard to the rules of procedure; it should not consider a submission made by any of the States concerned in the dispute until prior consent is given by all States that are parties to such a dispute.
Ambassador Akram urged all delegations to take a progressive approach during the next session and noted that it is essential to focus on achieving a good quality result that will enable to reach a consensus solution.
The idea of a global economy recognizes the seas and ocean as drivers for economic development with great potential for innovation and growth, he stressed, adding that Pakistan’s interest in it emanates from a coastline of over 1000 kilometres and exclusive economic zone of 290 thousand square kilometres, the Karachi port and the newly built deep seaport at Gwadar.
Ambassador Akram said Pakistan is committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) pertaining to conservation of oceans, saying it was ready to cooperate with other friendly nations in the region and around the world to realize that goal for the mutual benefit of all.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): The European Union (EU) has welcomed the progress made by Pakistan to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plans and also lauded adoption of the ‘Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill’ by the parliament, that later became an Act with presidential approval.
A joint communiqué issued early Wednesday at the conclusion of sixth round of the European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue mentioned that the EU also welcomed the “ongoing efforts to address the remaining FATF actions”.
The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi sand the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission(HR/VP), Josep Borrell in Brussels on Tuesday.
The two sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and the EU based on the Strategic Engagement Plan, says the joint communique shared by the Foreign Office here.
The HR/VP and the foreign minister reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen and protect human rights as well as fundamental freedoms, focussing on freedom of religion and belief, inter-faith harmony, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and rights of minorities.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also raised concerns at the rising trends of Islamophobic acts, xenophobia and religious intolerance in the world and the need for common resolve to counter them.
Both sides expressed a strong political commitment towards the GSP+ and the implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance that are linked to it.
The HR/VP raised concerns including on the death penalty and the misuse of the blasphemy law.
The HR/VP also expressed appreciation for the adoption of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill by the Parliament of Pakistan and hoped that the Anti-Torture Bill and other human rights related legislations that are before the parliament would be adopted soon.
They also welcomed the continued cooperation with Pakistan on electoral matters.
High Representative Borrell informed Foreign Minister Qureshi about the upcoming follow-up visit of the EU Election Observation Mission to Pakistan of 2018.
HR/VP Borrell and Foreign Minister Qureshi discussed the importance of decisive global action on climate adaptation and building climate resilience, and the importance of developed countries taking the lead in mobilising climate finance, noting the significant role of public and private funds, and technology to facilitate the transition.
HR/VP Borrell welcomed Pakistan’s pronouncement, prior to the Glasgow conference, of its Nationally Determined Contribution to reaching the common climate objectives.
The High Representative and Foreign Minister had an extensive exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan. They agreed on the importance of maintaining sustained engagement with Afghanistan to promote stability and countering narcotics as well as the threat of terrorism.
They expressed grave concern at the potential for an economic collapse and significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a fresh flow of refugees.
Both sides acknowledged Afghanistan’s serious liquidity challenges which strain the legitimate banking services. They also agreed on the need for continuing urgent and unhindered humanitarian assistance and basic social services support to the Afghan people.
They highlighted the importance of improving the socio-economic situation and preserving human rights, notably those of women and girls, and persons belonging to minorities.
Both sides supported dialogue among the Afghan parties for achieving national reconciliation and underlined the importance of an inclusive and representative government, to enhance the prospects of security and stability.
The High Representative thanked Pakistan for its support in evacuation of EU nationals and the safe passage of people from Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s support for the EU’s inclusion in regional political consultation mechanism on Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s deep concerns about human rights violations by India in Jammu and Kashmir, and efforts to change the demography of the disputed territory in violation of UNSC resolutions.
High Representative Borrell underscored that the EU is following the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir closely and restated the need for restraint, de-escalation of tensions and resolution of the dispute through dialogue and constructive political and diplomatic engagement.
The HR/VP welcomed as an important step, in the interest of regional peace and stability, the agreement of February 2021 between India and Pakistan for observance of ceasefire understanding at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and to engage through the established mechanisms.
Foreign Minister Qureshi and High Representative Borrell also exchanged views on other regional issues and reaffirmed their endeavour to promote peace and prosperity through concerted efforts.
BRUSSELS (Belgium), Dec 7 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Vice President Josep Borrel co-chaired the 6th round of Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue here on Tuesday.
During the strategic dialogue, multi-dimensional bilateral relations between Pakistan and the European Union were discussed in detail.
Implementation of the project of strategic partnership agreed between Pakistan and EU was also reviewed during the dialogue.
Besides discussing in detail bilateral trade, investment and other related matters, the two sides also exchanged views about the matters concerning regional peace and stability including the situation in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said as the next year will mark 60th anniversary of Pakistan-EU friendship, his country desired to celebrate this auspicious occasion jointly in Islamabad.
He said today’s dialogue depicted the commitment to further strengthen and broaden the existing Pakistan-EU Strategic Partnership.
BRUSSELS (Belgium), Dec 7 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that Pakistan was following the policy of peace with all of its neighbors for peace and stability in South Asia.
Pakistan was desirous of resolving all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through dialogue, he added.
The Foreign Minister expressed these views during his meeting with Secretary General NATO Jens Stoltenberg here at the NATO Headquarters.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation, the emerging situation in Afghanistan as well as other matters of mutual interest including the situation in the region.
Referring to his June 2019 meeting with the NATO Secretary General, the Foreign Minister said that high level political and military contacts have played important role in strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the matters of mutual interest.
Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterating Pakistan’s strong commitment for peace and stability in Afghanistan expressed concern over the fast emerging humanitarian crisis in the neighboring country.
He said there was a need for the international community to make serious efforts for providing humanitarian and economic assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister said that the cooperation of international community with Taliban was essential to check the possibility of people’s migration from Afghanistan and saving the country from becoming again a safe haven of terrorists and the hub of narcotics.
He said that Pakistan was hosting an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on December 19 to attract the attention of international community towards the emerging humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg appreciated Pakistan’s support for NATO during its two decades’ long presence in Afghanistan.
MIRPUR (AJK) Dec 07 (APP):President of National Conference and former chief minister of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), Dr Farooq Abdullah Tuesday said that Kashmiris will rise above oppression and will get back what has been snatched, said a report reached here from across the line of control (LoC).
Addressing his party workers at Jammu, Abdullah reiterated that National Conference to continue the struggle for restoration of Article 370 and 35A, the report said. Definitely “we will win this struggle” he vowed.
Abdullah said still the people in IIOJK were being deprived of their rights, it added.
Farooq Abdullah said that after the sacrifices of over 700 of Indian farmers and the apprehensions of defeat in the elections in 5 states of India, the Indian government has accepted to repeal the farm laws.
“New Delhi only works to win elections and not for the prosperity of the nation. I want to tell them that stop this politics of hatred otherwise India won’t survive,” he said this while lambasting the extremist Indian rulers.
“I declare that IIOJK people will rise above their oppression and will get back their rights. No one can suppress us. Definitely we will win this struggle,” he said.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 07 (APP):School closures during the coronavirus pandemic could result in a staggering $17 trillion in lost lifetime earnings for today’s students, according to a UN-backed report.
The projection is among the findings of The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery, published by the World Bank, the UN Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The figure is calculated in present value, representing roughly 14 per cent of current Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It far exceeds the $10 trillion estimates from a year ago, revealing that the impact is more severe than previously thought.
The pandemic brought education systems across the world to a halt, said Jaime Saavedra, World Bank Global Director for Education. More than 20 months later, millions of children remain shut out of school, while others may never return.
Furthermore, the report shows that in low and middle-income countries, the share of children living in “learning poverty” could jump from 53 per cent to 70 per cent.
“The loss of learning that many children are experiencing is morally unacceptable,” Saavedra said.
“And the potential increase of ‘learning poverty’ might have a devastating impact on future productivity, earnings, and well-being for this generation of children and youth, their families, and the world’s economies.”
The report reveals that real data is now corroborating simulations estimating that school closures resulted in significant learning losses.
Regional evidence from countries such as Pakistan, Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico detail substantial losses in maths and reading skills, sometimes roughly proportional to the length of school closures.
There was also diversity across countries, and by subject, students’ socioeconomic status, gender, and grade level.
However, evidence from across the world suggests the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in education, with children from low-income households, those with disabilities, as well as girls, less likely to access remote learning.
Additionally, younger students had less access to remote learning and were more affected by learning loss than older counterparts, especially pre-school age children.
Furthermore, the most marginalized or vulnerable students were disproportionately impacted, among other findings.
Robert Jenkins, UNICEF Director of Education, called for reopening schools, and keeping them open, to “stem the scars on this generation”, while warning of the risks of inaction.
“The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the world, disrupting education for 1.6 billion students at its peak, and exacerbated the gender divide,” he said.
“In some countries, we’re seeing greater learning losses among girls and an increase in their risk of facing child labor, gender-based violence, early marriage, and pregnancy.”
With less than three per cent of government stimulus packages allocated to education, the report underlines the need for greater funding.
Reopening schools must remain a top and urgent priority globally, while countries should implement Learning Recovery Programmes to ensure students in this generation will attain at least the same competencies as their predecessors.
At the same time, techniques like targeted instruction can support learning recovery, meaning teachers can align instruction to the learning levels of students.
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, underscored the need for government action.
“With government leadership and support from the international community, there is a great deal that can be done to make systems more equitable, efficient, and resilient, capitalizing on lessons learned throughout the pandemic and on increasing investments,” she said, while stressing the need to prioritize children and youth.
To build more resilient education systems for the long-term, the report calls for countries to consider taking steps such as investing in the enabling environment to unlock the potential of digital learning opportunities for all students.
The role of parents, families, and communities in children’s learning must also be reinforced.
At the same time, teachers should have support and access to high-quality professional development opportunities, while the share of education should be increased in the national budget allocation of stimulus packages.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Malik Adnan on Monday said he dedicated awards given to him by Prime Minister Imran Khan, to Priyantha Kumara and the people of Sri Lanka.
Malik Adnan showed extraordinary courage while making an effort to save Sri Lanka citizen Priyantha Kumara during a mob attack in a sports factory in Sialkot last Friday.
He thanked the Prime Minister for awarding him a commendation certificate and Tamgha e Shujaat.
Talking to APP, he said in the situation he found himself in, one should always stand with the oppressed.
He said, “today I am very proud and my message to the nation is that whenever you encounter such a situation always stand with the oppressed.”
He said after the incident the way the nation stood with him, he was thankful to everybody.
He said his parents and teachers always advised him to stand with the oppressed even at the cost of one’s life.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said one who saved a human saved the whole of humanity, he added.
He said Priyantha Kumara was a good human being, friend, and the best manager and people trained by him were working at high posts in different companies of the country.
Media, teachers and conscious citizens should guide people so that such incidents were not repeated in future, he added.
RAWALPINDI, Dec 07 (APP):The Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony and Middle East, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Tuesday said that the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted a discrimination-free society.
Addressing the participants of the conference ‘Unity in Diversity, Challenges and Opportunities’ organized under the auspices of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) here he said that the prime minister and the state was very clear to follow the teachings of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
He said the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed protection of the rights of the minorities and the incumbent government would ensure their all rights. Shedding light on the message of Islam of peace, love, affection, tolerance, coexistence and humanity, he urged the people to foster respect for diverse faiths and cultures and reject extremism in any form.
Tahir Ashrafi said all-out efforts were being made to spread the message of Islam of tolerance, peace and love. He said, “The prime minister has said that we will not allow anyone in this country to bully in the name of religion. We all should play a role like Adnan Malik of Sialkot as he tried his best to save the life of Sri Lankan manager.”
Tahir Ashrafi said, “Now, we all should come forward to play a role to make Pakistan as per vision of Quaid-e-Azam which is ours and also of the minority, he added. This is not a country of a few extremists, this is a country of moderates, he said adding, “We can’t stand with a killer as a killer is a killer.” The tragedy of the Sri Lankan manager had again given us the opportunity to follow the National Action Plan, he added.
Anyone who falsely accuses someone of blasphemy for its own purpose should be punished under the same law, he said adding, those who are involved in killing of the Sri Lankan manager do not know what blasphemy is. Now, a common slogan had emerged that no one in Pakistan should be allowed to misuse the name of religion, he added. Today, all the leading scholars had apologized to the Sri Lankan ambassador, he informed.
He said, “We demand from the Chief Justice of Pakistan that those involved in the Sri Lankan manager’s killing should be given exemplary punishment.” All religions of Pakistan were united against this mafia which burns innocent people in the name of religion, Tahir Ashrafi said. Dr. Paul Jacob Bhatti, Chairman APMA on the occasion said that the main objective of this conference was to identify the root cause of division among people of diverse faith in Pakistan and find ways to unite them together for a peaceful and harmonious coexistence without fear.
He said, earnest efforts would be made to unite, divided community in Pakistan. A special council ‘Unity in Diversity’ would be formed to highlight issues being confronted in Pakistan and it would also give recommendations to address them, he added.
Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil urged the nation to promote truthfulness, honesty, forgiveness to curb the ruthless attitude from the society in line with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
He called for setting aside differences made in the name of sect, race, politics and bilingual division etc.
He said that the country was running through difficult times due to non-implantation of golden principles of Islam in individual lives.
Maulana Khabir Azad said that the clerics from various schools of thought had unanimously condemned the brutal lynching of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot, calling it ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘extrajudicial’ and demanded that strict legal action against those responsible.
It was an inhumane act and to accuse someone of blasphemy without proof was not in accordance with the Shariah, he added. Hamyun Jamshed, Bishop Humphrey Peters and Bishop Samul also addressed the participants. Arch Bishop Joseph Arshad, Albert David and diplomats of Italy, Iraq and UAE were also present on the occasion.
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